FRANCE. Aéroports de Paris (AdP), in association with FRAM tourism group, is set to begin testing an excursion programme called “Airport Discovery Visits”. These visits, organised by Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, will start on Monday 10 July.
The concept is “a day of pedagogical discovery and preparation for travel”, according to AdP. The objective of the programme is to let the French public get to better know the location, which handled over 145,000 passengers a day in 2005 and which employs around 80,000 people.
It also aims to help visitors learn how to make the most of their airport experience.
Planned by airport experts, the visits will enable participants to better understand the airport operating processes, as well as the roles and missions of different members of staff.
The ‘backstage’ airport visit will last a whole day, with the following agenda:
– Presentation of airport operations and the different staff members
– Visiting a terminal building
– Simulation of check-in and boarding
– Lunch at the Sofitel hotel
– Visiting the ‘Pavillon de Réception’ (the lounge where heads of state are welcomed – subject to approval)
– Visiting the airport fire station.
This new service is one element of the airport’s global strategy to upgrade the quality of its service. “To better understand the airport, is to use it better,” emphasised Aéroports de Paris Marketing, Retail and Communications Director Pascal Bourgue.
FRAM Group Communications Director Serge Laurens added: “At a time when the general public needs to be informed and reassured about air transport, our group is taking part with enthusiasm, through our travel agencies and our website www.fram.fr.”
The first visits will take place on the 10, 12, and 13 July. The cost is €40, inclusive of tax. At the end of each visit a discount voucher will be offered by the FRAM group to each participant.
If the visit programme is deemed successful, it could be extended to include Paris Orly airport too.
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